Means for condensing and refining exhaust gases



' July 20, 1937. H. LUNDQUIST I 2,087,411

MEAN$ FOR CONDENSING AND REFINING EXHAUST GASES Filed Jan. 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l i fiiim'an m q July 20, 1937. H. LUNDQUlST MEANS FOR CONDENSING AND REFINING EXHAUST GASES Filed Jan. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR CONDENSING AND REFINING .EXHAUST GASES Hans Lundquist, Chicago, Ill.,'assignor of onehalf to Frederick L. Maytag, Newton, Iowa Application January 10, 1934, Serial No. 706,013

3 Claims. (Cl. 123-119) The present invention relates to exhaust con-- densers and more particularly to a novel means for condensing, collecting and refining the usable portions or content of the exhaust gas for re-use I inserted in the exhaust line for condensing and collecting the unused combustible portions of the raw exhaust gas.

' A further object of the'invention is\ in the novel means for condensing the hot or raw exhaust gas by a cooling fluid. In the present embodiment, this cooling fluid is caused to circulate through the condenser by means of a radiator, and whereby the liquefiable content of the exhaust gas passing therethrough is condensed and collected.

A still further object of the present invention is in the provision of a novel system and means for condensing, collecting, filtering and purifying the combustible content or portions of the raw exhaust gas, and returning the separated portions to the fuel system for re-use.

Yet another object and distinct advantage of the invention is in the increased'efiiciency of operation of the automobile. The invention is constructed and arranged so as not to obstruct tion, construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same 50 is susceptible of modification and' change and comprehends other details and constructions, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

A further object of the present invention is in,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an auto mobile equipped with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a View in horizontal cross section through the condenser.

Fig. 3 is aview in vertical cross section through the condenser and receptacle for collecting the condensate.

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical cross section of the condenser taken in a plane represented by the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical cross section through an alternate construction. Figs. '7, 8, and. 9 are views in vertical cross section taken in planes represented by the lines 17, 8-8 and 99 respectively, of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularlyto the disclosure in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the novel device I is mounted in the exhaust line 2 leading from the closure 6 is normally held in place by suitable securing means such as bolts or the like I and is formed with an extension 8 forming a bear ing for an end 9 of the exhaust pipe 2. The opposite end I0 is also provided with an extension II forming a-bearing for the end I2 of the exhaust pipe.

Within the casing or housing 5 is positioned a radiator l3 forming a condenser for condensing the liqu'efiable portions or content of the exhaust gases. This radiator is provided with imperforate end plates l4 and I5, each having an-edge seating against a shoulder 16 and I1, respectively, the opposite edges being spaced from the side walls of the casing to allow the a passage of the exhaust gas.

The radiator is located and positioned in spaced relation within: the casing by means of pins or projections H3 at one end on the end plate l5 and adapted toseat in openings in bosses I9 formed or provided on the interior of the end or closure 6. The opposite endplate-M is P vided with a pair of spaced bushings 2!], each provided with an enlargement forming a spacer 2|. Within the upper bushing is a conduit 22 forming an outlet for a cooling fluid, while in the lower bushing is a conduit 23 forming an inlet for the cooling fluid. A look nut 24 on the threaded portions of each bushing 20 retains the radiator or condenser in proper position.

The exhaust gas in passing into and through the condenser follows the path of the arrows as shown in Fig. 2, entering at oneside of the radiator and passing crosswise therethrough or transverse to the axis of the casing 5. The cooling fluid entering through the pipe or conduit 23 which is connected to the lower end or base of the ordinary radiator 25 passes into the lower pan 2B of the radiator l3, then passes upwardly through the core of the radiator to the upper pan 21 thereof from where the fluid passes through the conduit 22 and into the water jacket of the engine.

.The condensate passes downwardly through the radiator and collects on the bottom 28 of the casing 5. This bottom slopes inwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 'whereby the condensate will collect and flow towards the center drain and through an outlet tube 29 into a receptacle 30. This receptacle is threaded onto a depending threaded In order for the separated and collected fluid or liquid 35 to again pass into the fuel supply line of the engine, this fluid must pass through the filter 33 and thence through an outlet 36 to a conduit 3! which is connected to the vacuum tank 38 or other fuel supply means for transmitting the combustible fluid to the carburetor 39.

In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive is disclosed an alternate embodiment of the invention in which the one end of the exhaust pipe 2 is connected to a casing or housing 40. This casing is provided with opposite end walls 4| and 42 which may be removable. The end wall 4| is provided with a reduced part or inlet 43 forming a bearing for one end of the exhaust pipe, while the end wall 42 is provided with a reduced part 44 forming a bearing for the other end of the exhaust pipe.

Mounted on the end wall 4| is a member 45 provided with a deflector or baflie 46 and peripheral openings 41 for the entrance of the exhaust into the interior of the casing 40, the bafile preventing the exhaust from passing directly through the casing but deflecting it so that this gas must pass in a tortuous path. Within the casing is suitably positioned'a condenser 48 in the 'form of a radiator having tubes 49 for the passage of the gas and about which tubes is circulated a cooling fluid. This cooling fluid enters at the inlet 50 and passes out through the outlet and may be connected in the circuit of the usual cooling radiatorof the engine.

The gas escaping from the condenser will strike against the staggered deflectors or baffles 52 and 53 which are suitably mounted on the end wall' '42 of the casing and maintained in their adjusted position by means of rods or spacers 54, 55, and 56. By causing the gas to strike against these deflectors or bafiles 52 and 53, it is prevented from carrying any condensate suspended therein into the outlet 44 but such condensate will collect on these deflectors and drop into' the tapered sump 51 along with the condensate which collects in the tubes 49 and drains therefrom.

As in the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 m5 inclusive, the collected condensate flows through the pipe or outlet 29 into the receptacle 30 and before passing to the vacuum tank or fuel supply system, must pass through the filter 33 so as to remove any solid particles or foreign matter. The

collected particles or foreign matter may be re- The device may be readily installed, is compact and self-enclosed and is so constructed, arranged and proportioned as to permit a proper discharge 'of the exhaust gas without, building up a back pressure on the engine.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A device for condensing and separating the' liquefiable and combustible content of the exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a casing, a condensing element in said casing having a water receiving side and an exhaust gas receiving side, portions of said condensing element being spaced from the interior of said casing to form' water inlet and outlet spaces, a pipe connection to said water inlet space from the water cooling system of the internal combustion engine, apipe connection from said water outlet space back to said water cooling system, a connecting conduit 1 from the exhaust pipe of said engine to the ex haust gas receiving side of said condensing element, a receptacle for collecting the condensate from said condensing element, means for conducting said collected condensate back to the intake of the engine for reuse therein, and means for conducting the uncondensed exhaust gases from said condensing element to the outside atmosphere, whereby the water from the cooling system of the engine will be used for condensing a portion of the exhaust gases, and only the condensate will be returned therefrom to the engine for reuse therein.

2. A device for condensing and separating the liquefiable and combustible content of the exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising 'in combination, a casing, a condensing element in said casing having a water receiving side and an exhaust gas receiving side, portions of'said condensing element being spaced from the interior of said casing to form water inlet and outlet spaces, a pipe connection to said water inlet space from the water cooling system of the internal combustion engine, a pipe connection from said water outlet space back to said water cooling system, a connecting conduit from the exhaust pipe of said engine to the exhaust gas receiving side of said condensing element, a. receptacle for collecting the condensate from said condensingelement, means for conducting said collected condensate back to the intake of the engine for reuse therein, and means for conducting the uncondensed exhaust gases from said condensing element to the outside atmosphere, whereby the water from the cooling.

system of the engine will be used for condensing a portion of the exhaustgases, and only the condensate will be returned therefrom to the engine for reuse therein; and filtering means through which the condensate passes after leaving the condensing element to purify the same before entering the engine for reuse therein.

3. A device for condensing and separating the liqueflable and combustible content of the exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a casing arranged to be installed in the exhaust line, a heat exchange device in said casing so constructed and arranged that the hot exhaust gases will pass into said heat exchange device on one side and water from the cooling system on the other side, a connection from the inlet portion of the water side of said heat exchange device to thecooling system radiator of the engine, a return connection from the outlet portion of I said water side back to the cooling system of the said heat exchange device to the atmosphere for discharge to the atmosphere of the uncondensed 1 portion of the exhaust gases, whereby the liquefiable and combustible content of the exhaust gases will be condensed in said heat exchange device by the water from the cooling system of the engine, means for conducting the condensate back to the intake of the engine for reuse in said engine, and filtering means between said heat exchange device and said engine or filtering said 10 condensate before it is introduced into the engine.

HANS LUNDQUIST. 

